TEXAS MILITARY VALUE TASK FORCE 2018 STRATEGIC … · Captain Erik Spitzer, Commander of NASK Fort Bliss Brigadier General Mark Landes, Deputy Commanding General, 1st Armored Division

TEXAS MILITARY VALUE TASK FORCE 2018 STRATEGIC REPORT

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Table of Contents 4… Executive Summary

8… Installations

8… U.S. Army: Corpus Christi Army Depot

9… Fort Bliss

10… Fort Hood

11… Red River Army Depot

13… U.S. Navy: Naval Air Station Corpus Christi

14… Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base

18… Naval Air Station Kingsville

19… U.S. Air Force: Dyess Air Force Base

20… Goodfellow Air Force Base

21… Laughlin Air Force Base

22… Sheppard Air Force Base

23… Joint Base San Antonio (Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston)

26… Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base

27… The Texas Military Department

28… Overall Recommendations

28… Funding the Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant (DEAAG), Encroachment Issues

29… Spousal Employment/Education, Spousal License Reciprocity

30… Quality of Local Schools, Quality of Life Issues, Energy Resiliency

31… Cyber Security, Healthcare: External to the Installation and Virtual Healthcare, Public/Public,

Public/Private Partnerships

32… Conclusion

33… Appendix

Texas (2018)Economic Impact (in Billions*)

Ft. Bliss$23.13

Ft. Hood$24.56

Sheppard AFB$3.95

Dyess AFB$2.64

Goodfellow AFB$3.38

Laughlin AFB$1.50

NAS Corpus Christi$3.62

Corpus Christi AD$1.12

NAS Kingsville$676.21 Million

Joint Base San AntonioFt. Sam HoustonRandolph AFBLackland AFB

$30.37

Red River AD$1.55

NAS Fort Worth JRB$3.95

Ellington Field JRB$1.17

*Unless otherwise noted

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Executive Summary The Texas Military Value Task Force (TMVTF) was created in the Texas Government Code,

section 436.105 (see Appendix) to seek advice to prepare for possible actions by the U.S.

Department of Defense (DoD) by identifying strategies, policies, plans, projects and other ways

to improve or add military value installations. Other ways include bringing in new missions, like

Army Futures Command, which was recently welcomed to Austin. This is being accomplished

by meeting with military installations commanders and staff along with local community leaders.

Recommendations will be provided to the Governor, Texas Military Preparedness Commission,

state legislature, and congressional delegation to strengthen military installations in Texas.

Per statute, the TMVTF consists of a chair and six members for a total of seven. The Task Force

is broken into three subcommittees: Army, Air Force, and Navy with a joint service chair.

Dr. Annette Sobel – Chair (Previously Army and Air National Guard)

Major General (ret.) Dr. Annette Sobel serves as an associate professor in the medical school at

TTU HSC, professor of Electrical Engineering and the Executive for Critical Infrastructure

Protection at TTU. She has worked at both Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. Dr.

Sobel retired as a Maj. General after 20+ years of military service and as the first Director of

Intelligence for the National Guard Bureau.

Her long resumé includes being an Army Astronaut Candidate and Senior Flight Surgeon for the

57th MEDEVAC Detachment. She served in combat in Operation Just Cause, and later became

New Mexico’s Homeland Security Director. She's served on the national Board of the Girl

Scouts and on the South Plains Council of BSA. She is President of the West Texas Komen

Foundation, Lubbock. Among scores of honors, she received the NM Anti-Defamation League's

Distinguished Public Service award. Her research currently focuses on integration of human

factors principles into a wide range of systems engineering platforms. She is married to Robert

Duncan, a distinguished scientist himself and former Vice President for Research at TTU.

Ken Cox – Army Subcommittee

MG (R) Ken Cox was born into an Army family in Heidelberg, Germany in 1957. Ken

graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1979 and commissioned as an Engineer.

He served at all levels of command during his 36 year career, culminating as the Deputy

Commanding General for III Corps. MG (Ret) Cox deployed 3 times to Iraq, while also spending

almost two years traveling in and out of Afghanistan and the Middle East. After retiring, he

served as the Executive Director for the Heart of Texas Defense Alliance (HOTDA) before

becoming the Chief Operating Officer for Workforce Solutions of Central Texas. MG (Ret)

Cox’s education includes a Bachelor of Science Degree from the United States Military

Academy, a Master’s Degree in Operations Research from the Georgia Institute of Technology,

and a Master’s of Science Degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College.

Dr. Henry Ostermann – Army Subcommittee

Dr. Henry Ostermann is a graduate of Texas A&M University. He is the President and CEO of

HJO Enterprises, LLC. He was appointed by the Chief of the Army Reserve as an Ambassador

for the State of Texas. He served in the US Army Reserve and retired as a Brigadier

General. He retired from the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center as the Clinical Support

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Service Line Executive. Dr. Ostermann was an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and

Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine. He resides in Anderson, Texas.

Robert Wood – Navy Subcommittee

Having lived in 15 states and visited 30 countries and after 37 years in uniform, CAPT Bob

Wood, USN (Ret), has taught government, history, and economics full and part time in various

private schools in Fort Worth for the past 9 years. Since retirement from the Navy in 2009,

CAPT Wood has been engaged in a wide range of community activities, including being heavily

involved in charity work supporting our military members and their families with the Fort Worth

Airpower Council, USS Fort Worth Support Committee, and the Snowball Express. Already a

2004 graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces of the National Defense University

with a Master’s Degree in National Resource Strategy, CAPT Wood completed a Master’s

Degree in Liberal Arts at Texas Christian University in 2012, and continues to be engaged with

TCU working with Game Operations during the football season. A native of Valdosta, Georgia,

when asked why he settled in Fort Worth, CAPT Wood always comments on the military

friendly atmosphere in Fort Worth and in Texas in general, and that as a result, he and his wife,

Mary Frances a native of Washington, DC, couldn't think of any really good reason to retire

anywhere else.

Dave Edgecomb – Navy Subcommittee

Dave Edgecomb is a retired Navy Captain who graduated from the United States Naval

Academy and served 34 years as a Naval Aviator before retiring in Corpus Christi Texas. His

military experience includes Chief of Staff to the Chief of Naval Air Training, Command of

Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, and Command of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light

Four Five located is San Diego CA. He currently works as a project manager for Pin Oak

Terminals Corpus Christi in the Port of Corpus Christi Dave is also a member of the South Texas

Military Facilities Task Force.

Michael Bob Starr – Air Force Subcommittee

Michael Bob Starr is a retired Air Force colonel and the executive director of Global Samaritan

Resources, a non-profit humanitarian aid logistics organization in Abilene, Texas. Colonel (ret)

Starr's military career spanned 23 years and culminated in command of the 7th Bomb Wing and

Dyess Air Force Base. He deployed for over 1,100 days after 9/11 and participated in the

opening airstrike for Operation Enduring Freedom, accumulating over 600 combat hours in 5

aircraft, primarily in the B-1. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, the Harvard

Kennedy School of Government, Air Command and Staff College, and the School of Advanced

Air and Space Studies. His staff assignments included tours with 9th Air Force, Central

Command Air Forces, Multi-National Force -- Iraq, the Air Staff, Office of the Secretary of

Defense, and the congressionally mandated Commission on Roles and Missions of the Armed

Forces.

James Whitmore – Air Force Subcommittee

Maj. Gen. James A. Whitmore entered the Air Force as a distinguished graduate of the Memphis

State University ROTC in 1976. In his 35 years of active duty, he served in a variety of flying

and staff positions, and commanded the 526th Fighter Squadron, 20th Operations Group, 455th

Air Expeditionary Wing and 82nd Training Wing. He also served in the Pentagon as the

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Executive Secretary for the Secretary of Defense. General Whitmore is a command pilot with

more than 3,000 flying hours in the F-4 and F-16, including 190+ combat hours. After retiring

from the Air Force, he has focused on consulting and board membership for a number of non-

profit organizations including the USO, Air Force Association, United Way, and Blue Skies of

Texas. He has been married to his college sweetheart Julia for 42 years. They have three adult

children and enjoy life in the Hill Country about an hour north of San Antonio.

Timeline of Task Force Visits The Task Force was reconstituted in December 2017. They began their visits to Texas military

installations in January 2018 and finished their visits in August 2018. The members met with

military commanders, command staff, and community leaders to discuss the installations and

growth opportunities. The members met with the noted representatives below, which is not an

exhaustive list of all meetings but an overview.

January 2018

Joint Base San Antonio (Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force

Base).

Brigadier General Heather Pringle, Commander of JBSA

Mr. Robert Naething (SES), U.S. Army North

March 2018

Red River Army Depot

Colonel Jason Carrico, Commander of RRAD

April 2018

Naval Air Station Corpus Christi

Captain Phillip Brock, Commander of NASCC

Corpus Christi Army Depot

Colonel Allan Lanceta, Commander of CCAD

Naval Air Station Kingsville

Captain Erik Spitzer, Commander of NASK

Fort Bliss

Brigadier General Mark Landes, Deputy Commanding General, 1st Armored Division

Colonel Steve Murphy, U.S. Army Garrison Commander

May 2018

Goodfellow Air Force Base

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Colonel Ricky Mills, Commander of Goodfellow AFB

Dyess Air Force Base

Colonel Brandon Parker, Commander of Dyess AFB

Fort Hood

Major General J.T. Thomson, Deputy Commanding General, III Corps

Colonel Henry Perry, U.S. Army Garrison Commander

Sheppard Air Force Base

Brigadier General Ronald Jolly, Sr., Commander of Sheppard AFB

Colonel Andrea Themely, Commander, 80th Flying Training

June 2018

Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base

Captain Jonathan Townsend, Commander of NAS Fort Worth JRB

Ellington Field

Colonel Stan Jones, Commander, 147th Attack Wing

July 2018

Laughlin Air Force Base

Colonel Charles Velino, Commander of Laughlin AFB

August 2018

Texas Military Department

Brigadier General Tracy Norris, Deputy Adjutant General, TXARNG Commander

Brigadier General Dawn Ferrell, Deputy Adjutant General, TXANG

Brigadier General Greg Chaney, Director, Joint Staff

Brooke Army Medical Center

Brigadier General George Appenzeller, Commander of BAMC

Why Texas? Texas is home to 15 military installations that provide $101 billion impact to the state economy.

Texas has immense training space on the ground and in the skies with mission friendly weather.

Texas is home to supportive infrastructure and logistics making it effective and easy to deploy

assets and personnel overseas. The Governor’s Texas Military Preparedness Commission has

awarded over $50 million to support military installations in Texas in the past four years. The

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state economy is strong, including a robust defense industry, and veteran friendly communities

which provide an excellent quality of life for service members and their families. There are no

personal or corporate income taxes and Texas is a top recipient of DoD contracts and is home to

the leading defense contractors.

United States Army

Corpus Christi Army Depot

Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) is the largest rotary wing repair facility in the world. They

perform depot level maintenance for all services but prioritize the army’s needs, especially with

UH-60 modernization. The depot is not funded like other DoD facilities and must operate as a

business to generate revenue.

Although government-operated, the depot competes for programs from the private and

government sectors. CCAD is a critical asset to the Army’s Organic Industrial Base (OIB). The

depot has a unique set of capabilities in helicopter, and component support essential for all

branches of the DOD, Department of Homeland Security along with Customs and Border Patrol,

and foreign nations. CCAD contributed $1.12 billion to the Texas economy in 2017 with a gross

domestic product of $700.15 million and a disposable personal income of $538.76 million.

CCAD is home to 6 active duty members, 3,245 civilians and contractors, and 18 National Guard

and Reserve members.1

Strengths:

Largest rotary wing repair facility in the world and uniquely skilled workforce.

The Port of Corpus Christi is frequently used for Army deployments.

Opportunities:

CCAD can readily absorb Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) maintenance with little

recapitalization.

CCAD has the ability to modernize and upgrade aging aircraft at greater cost savings than

procuring new aircraft.

Recommendations:

Continue to support the depot activities and bringing in additional emerging work like

UAS.

1 Numbers fluctuate on a day to day basis.

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Fort Bliss

Fort Bliss is the second largest Installation Management Command (IMCOM) installation at 1.12

million acres, and when combined with the adjacent White Sands Missile Range it totals 3.3

million acres. Major commands include the 1st Armored Division, Joint Task Force – North,

Joint Modernization Command, William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC), and the

32nd Army Air Missile Defense Command, and the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. Fort

Bliss contributed $23.13 billion to the Texas economy in 2017 with a gross domestic product of

$14.15 billion and a disposable personal income of $8.68 billion. Fort Bliss is home to 33,720

soldiers, 37,222 family members, around 4,500 deployed soldiers, and 11,532 civilians and

contractors.2

Strengths:

Fort Bliss is one of the newest complete Power Project Platform installations in the

Army. It can project units by air, rail, and highway to ports on the East and West coasts.

Any Army weapon system (from “Pistol to Missile”) can be launched or deployed here.

Home to the world’s largest inland desalination plant, the Kay Bailey Hutchinson

Desalination Plant can process 27.5 million gallons of water a day.

With the longest runway in the Army (and 4th largest in DoD), Fort Bliss mobilized

40,000 troops in 2016 which was ½ of the Army’s total deployment.

Fort Bliss is one of the few installations in the DoD that owns the airspace to the ground

(subterranean to stratosphere).

Fort Bliss has the largest restricted airspace in the United States.

Only active component Continental United States (CONUS) Replacement Center (CTC)

in the Army

One of two active joint Mobilization Force Generation Installation (MFGI) in the DoD

and has the largest capacity of the two.

Fort Bliss has trained units/soldiers/civilians from all 50 U.S. states and 4 U.S. territories

including National Guard.

Opportunities:

Test and evaluation of new Army communication equipment. All new communications

equipment goes through Fort Bliss for testing before being procured by the Army.

(Cyber systems connectivity and meeting standards)


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Capacity and space to absorb an additional Armored Brigade Combat team (ABCT).

The Mission Training Complex and Training Support Center provide exceptional mission

support and can take on additional training.

New William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC) due to be completed in

summer of 2020. Access to excellent universities (University of Texas – El Paso and

Texas Tech University Health Sciences) in El Paso that could directly support WBAMC.

El Paso is medically understaffed so that would be an excellent opportunity to grow.

Medical Command (MEDCOM) considers true readiness to be able to have medical staff

to support all military families.

Training for interagency missions (including effective interrogation, military decision

making) conducted for interagency partners with great success.

Can accommodate additional National Guard unit training.

Recommendations:

There are several transportation projects that would add value to the installations and add

mission opportunities.

Expanding transportation infrastructure in the rail shipping terminal would make it more

efficient and speed deployments.

Fort Hood

Fort Hood is the largest active duty armored post with the largest concentration of armored

forces. Fort Hood is 342 square miles and its major commands include III Corps, 1st Calvary

Division, 13th Sustainment Command Expeditionary, 3d Cavalry Regiment, 1st Medical

Brigade, 36th Engineer Brigade, and 89th Military Police Brigade among many others. Fort

Hood contributed $24.56 billion to the Texas economy in 2017 with a gross domestic product of

$15.07 billion and a disposable personal income of $9.36 billion. Fort Hood is home to 35,963

soldiers, 46,797 family members, and 12,801 civilians and contractors.3

Strengths:

• Home to 4 ABCT which is the most in the Army.

• Fort Hood is a Power Projection Platform installation with modern, high capacity

infrastructure to support rapid deployment by air, land, and sea.

• One of two of the Army’s Primary Mobilization Force Generation Installations (PMFGI)

& Enduring Mobilization Training Centers.

• Original water rights to Belton Lake for 12,000 acre-feet, of which historically they only

use half.


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• There is reliable and redundant utility infrastructure.

• Fort Hood recently received a new Security Force Assistance Brigade - SFAB (Brigade

level HQs with 600+ Soldiers assigned).

• Supports Army Reserve and National Guard annual training (in excess of 20K annually).

• New $22M Training Support Center and $63M Mission Training Complex that provides

state of the art virtual and constructive (simulated) training.

• Unique underground training facility for unconventional missions.

• The Western Aviation Training Area is cleared by the FAA for day, night, and blackout

operations and allows for rotary wing operations out to 150 miles.

• Home to Texas Army National Guard Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site

(MATES).

• Capacity available to simultaneously mobilize/demobilize 3,500 to 10,000 soldiers.

Opportunities:

• Has the infrastructure to support a Corps headquarters, 2 Division headquarters, 5 (total)

BCTs, and 2 Combat Aviation Brigades (CAB) and a total of 50,000 Soldiers assigned.

• Possesses the runway, hangar and airspace to support additional helicopter and unmanned

aerial system missions.

• Healthcare collaboration (Military and Central Texas College) – 68W4 skill set to LVN

program (as well as other 68 series Military Occupation Specialty) compresses to train

LVNs coming out of the military.

• Opportunities to increase allied forces and international partnerships. Currently train with

Dutch aviation units.

Recommendations:

Continue to monitor wind farm developments that could negatively impact flight

operations with fixed wing or rotorcraft and other encroachment issues.

Leverage existing Veteran to BSN regional opportunities to expand health care capacity.

Red River Army Depot

Red River Army Depot (RRAD) is the Army’s Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for

Tactical Wheeled Vehicles (except for the Stryker). These include Bradley Fighting Vehicle

(Bradley), Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles

(FMTVs), MRAP variants, High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), and Rough

Terrain Container Handlers (RTCH). The depot repairs, maintains, and overhauls other items

such as engines, transmissions, axles, trailers, engineering equipment, and fire suppression

systems. RRAD contributed $1.55 billion to the Texas economy in 2017 with a gross domestic

product of $971.62 million and a disposable personal income of $743.43 million. RRAD does

4 68W – 68 Whiskey – The Military Occupational Specialty for the United States Army’s Combat Medic specialist

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this by utilizing robust fabrication capabilities to provide critical and hard to find replacement

parts. Red River Army Depot is home to 8 soldiers, and 4,806 civilians and contractors.5

Strengths:

Rubber Products Facility is the only one in DoD. It has the capacity to repair and

remanufacture a wide variety of tracks for several vehicles.

The cost to replicate programs at RRAD is substantial and many programs save costs that

cannot be recovered elsewhere. If machinery has to be moved, it has to be recertified

which is not guaranteed quickly or ever plus the potential environmental studies that

would be required.

RRAD does multi-service vehicular work that could expand to civilian vehicles

supporting military operations, in addition to Customs and Border Patrol.

RRAD’s largest tenant is the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). DLA has added $70

million to RRAD in infrastructure projects with more planned in the near- to mid-term.

Utilities are reliable, resilient, and dedicated to the site. There will be a new water

treatment facility built and the city has guaranteed 25,000 acre feet flow of water.

35 miles of internal rail capacity, multiple docks, direct access to two major rail carriers.

Access to two major interstate highways (I-30 & I-49) with the approved I-69, and easy

access to major ports at Beaumont and Corpus Christi.

Opportunities:

In summary, due to seamless support opportunities for intermodal transportation of

military assets, logistics, and resupply, RRAD has the capacity to accept a wide variety of

new regional missions.

RRAD has the potential to complete rapid prototyping that would support mission

expansion.

New AMPVs have 60% in common with the Bradley and would be ideal to assign

maintenance to RRAD because the relevant shops, pieces, and abilities are already in

place.

Workforce can attend training during work hours. Texarkana College offers a variety of

training programs for RRAD needs.

Recommendations:

Continue to support the depot and its work loads.


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Consider adding rapid prototyping and 3-D printing facility in collaboration with

Texarkana College.

United States Navy

Naval Air Station Corpus Christi

Naval Air Station Corpus Christi (NASCC) functions to maintain and operate facilities as well as

provide service and material to support operations of aviation facilities and units of the Naval Air

Training Command, Corpus Christi Army Depot, and other tenant activities and units.

Tenants include Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA), Training Air Wing Four, Marine

Aviation Training Support Group (MATSG-22), Customs Border Protection (CBP), Naval

Operational Support Center (NOSC), and Naval Health Clinic. NASCC uses 4 local fields

(Corpus Christi International Airport, Cabaniss Field, Waldron Field, and Truax Field with

Goliad Naval Outlying Field (NOLF) 65 miles to the north. The fields combined support

additional capacity. Aircraft flown include the T-6 and T-44. NASCC contributed $3.62 billion

to the Texas economy in 2017 with a gross domestic product of $2.24 billion and a disposable

personal income of $1.47 billion. NASCC is home to 1,947 active duty members, 6,138 civilians

and contractors, 688 National Guard and Reserve members, and has an average daily load of

1,000 students.6

Strengths:

• Navy’s single site for all initial dual engine training.

• Hosts 39 tenant commands with a large presence in Corpus Christi.

• Completed environmental assessment with finding of no significant impact for 4 airfields

including two civilian owned and operated fields providing excess capacity for T-6

training requirements.

• Completing environmental assessment for on base geothermal energy plant

• Over 22,845 square miles of dedicated training airspace

• Texas State legislature passed SB 2777 limiting tax incentives for wind farm construction

within 25 miles of military airfields (fixed wing).

• Access to abundant airspace and training areas.

• Good weather for flight training.

Opportunities:

• Space is available for new or expanded missions. Ideally, tenants could build their own

facilities.

6 Numbers fluctuate on a day to day basis. 7 SB 277 - Relating to the eligibility of certain property for certain ad valorem tax incentives relating to wind-powered energy devices.

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• Funding for a new operations and administration building has been allocated to support

T-6 and T-44 missions.

• Customs and Border Patrol fly P-3s and UAS enabling future mission support.

• Geothermal energy utilization is an option for combined renewable energy development.

Recommendations:

Continue to discourage incompatible development such as wind farms in close proximity

to military operations.

Seek additional relationships with UAS training and operations facilities across the

services.

Continue to pursuit partnerships with the City of Corpus Christi to provide utility service

and maintenance.

Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base

Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base (NAS FW JRB) is home to a multitude of

commands, many of which support important reserve functions for their respective branches. The

total combined population of the installation (including active, reserve, guard, DoD and Non-

DoD civilians and contractors) totals 11,371. A large tenant at NAS Fort Worth JRB is Lockheed

Martin, who is currently producing the F-35 Lightning II. NAS Fort Worth JRB contributed

$3.95 billion to the Texas economy in 2017 and provided employment for 10,033 personnel with

a gross domestic product of $2.38 billion and a disposable personal income of $1.63 billion. The

following information is a summary of the command tenants at NAS FW JRB:

Commander, NAS Fort Worth JRB is an Echelon IV O-6 command as the executive agent and

“landlord” for all tenants aboard the Base. Provides direct support for all Base facilities and

airfield operations. The commander is the Navy’s representative to the local communities.

Commander, Navy Information Force Reserve (CNIFR) is an Echelon IV Flag command

responsible for manning, training, and equipping approximately 7,800 active and reserve

Information Force personnel. CNIFR personnel operate in 22 JRIC’s nationally, including 2

JRIC’s and 9 NOSC’s in Texas.

Joint Reserve Intelligence Center (JRIC) Fort Worth is one of 28 JRIC’s nationally (

9 JRICs hosted by the Navy under CNIFR cognizance) with over 500 active and reserve

personnel assigned.

Opportunity:

• Fully capable intelligence facility with capacity for additional compatible mission

growth, especially full-time utilization (FTU) active component command support.

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Commander, Tactical Support Wing (CTSW) is an Echelon IV O-6 command whose primary

mission is the operational and training support for active duty Navy aviation commands. A mix

of F-5, F/A-18, and EF/A-18 aircraft used primarily in adversary role in training active duty air

wings, and the EF/A-18 squadron is regularly called upon to deploy in support of the Joint Staff

Global Force Management plan.

Opportunity:

• Initiatives have been considered and put forward to move a squadron to NAS Fort

Worth JRB, and/or expand Navy Reserve tactical aviation. Thus far budgetary limits

have not been overcome. CTSW would be interested in adding a squadron to NAS

Fort Worth due to its central US location, and available hangar space and

infrastructure. A potential major limitation is access to available local airspace for

training.

Commander, Fleet Logistics Support Wing is an Echelon IV O-6 command that provides

100% of the Navy’s airlift capacity coordinated through the Navy Air Logistics Office (NALO)

with a mix of C-130 and C-40 aircraft.

Strength:

VR-59 based at NAS Fort Worth JRB provides airlift support to US Navy requirements.

Commander, Reserve Component Command Fort Worth (RCCFW) is an Echelon IV O-6

command responsible for the manning, training, and equipping a qualified reserve force ready to

support steady state operations, contingencies, and war in support of Navy and Joint active

component commands. Twenty subordinate Navy Operational Support Centers (NOSC) operate

in seven states, with nine of them in Texas. NOSC Fort Worth is the largest of the NOSC’s and

supports 53 active duty/full time civilian personnel and 1,571 reservists assigned to 53 reserve

units.

Opportunity:

• Adding the Harlingen NOSC to NAS Kingsville might create a positive and

complementary mission group. Available space at the Army Reserve Center would

need to be confirmed first.

Branch Medical Clinic Fort Worth is an O-4 Officer-in-Charge clinic built and staffed to

provide primary medical and dental care to active duty personnel assigned to the base and local

area commands. All specialty care and dependent care is provided by medical personnel off

base. The clinic supports 2,700 active duty personnel, but provides no medical or dental care to

dependents, retirees, or reserve personnel, with the exception of pharmacy services to dependents

and retirees. The current pharmacy is at maximum capacity with approximately 120,000

prescriptions processed each year.

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Opportunity:

Support of DEAAG funding to match Federal funding for expansion of pharmacy

capacity would provide extremely valuable resources to the military and dependents

served.

Fleet Readiness Center West Det Fort Worth is an O-5 Officer-In-Charge (OIC) joint aviation

maintenance and logistics organization comprised of 359 Sailors, Marines, and civilians in

support of the Naval Aviation Enterprise. FRC West Det Fort Worth repair and sometimes

manufacture aircraft components for a range of Naval Aviation customers (15 directly supported

and indirectly supported commands) saving taxpayer dollars and increasing fleet readiness.

Opportunity:

Additional capacity exists at FRC WEST to absorb mission compatible customers

Marine Corps Marine Air Group FORTY ONE (MAG-41) is an Echelon IV O-6 command responsible for

the training and readiness aircraft and support units to provide combat forces in support of HQ,

Marine Corps tasking.

Opportunities:

Growth of VMR-1 with addition of aircraft

Growth of COOP site capacity to support 4th Marine Air Wing

8th Marine District is an Echelon IV O-6 command responsible for Marine Corps recruiting

over 13 states.

14th Marine Regiment is an Echelon IV O-6 command responsible for the training, readiness,

and deployment of Force Artillery capability from eleven subordinate commands in 12 states in

response to headquarters Marine Corps tasking. 2/14th Marines based at Grand Prairie Armed

Forces Reserve Center (GPAFRC) is one of only two HIMARS rocket system units in the

USMC. (Numerous Army Reserve units also based at GPAFRC.)

Opportunity:

Growth of COOP site capacity to support 4th Marine Division

Air Force/Texas Air National Guard 10th Air Force

The 10th Air Force Headquarters is the Air Force Reserve Command’s most diverse. It manages

and supervises all reserve fighter and bomber operations and training, special operations, rescue,

airborne warning and control, combat air operations battle staff, remotely piloted aircraft, space,

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cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance units. Almost all components are associated

with active duty units.

301st Fighter Wing

The 301st Fighter Wing Reserve Unit is responsible for training deployable airmen for active

duty. As the only Air Force Reserve Command fighter unit in Texas, they are anticipating an

upgrade to the F-35 aircraft by 2025.

Strengths:

Excess airfield operations capacity allows significant flying mission growth.

Transition to the F-35 for the Reserve’s 301st Fighter Wing is a natural fit and has been

announced but will require an environment review/ assessment.

Great ramp space, weather, infrastructure and ongoing daily F-35 flying operations flown

by Lockheed Martin across the flight line.

Tremendous local support from Fort Worth’s Air Power Council.

Great recruiting opportunities in the DFW Metroplex and access to DFW and Love Field

Airports.

136th Airlift Wing (TX Air National Guard)

The 136th Airlift Wing provides highly trained and equipped forces for worldwide combat and

peacetime tasking supporting the state and the Nation. Their flying mission includes short field

and dirt strip landings and airdrop delivery of cargo and people. The 136th Airlift Wing is the

only C-130 Air National Guard Wing within the Gulf Coast area, and is instrumental for

hurricane response and disaster-relief airlift capabilities in the Gulf States.

Opportunities:

Replace older C-130H models with C-130J models.

Army/ Army National Guard Baker Company, 90th Aviation Support Battalion

(Parent command 90th ASB is based at Col James L. Stone Army Reserve Center in White

Settlement, TX. Additional Army active and reserve manning based with 90th ASB and other

USAR units.) Baker Company has a primary mission of rotary-wing maintenance support and

repairing Army aircraft. They are also responsible for fuel storage and delivery, water

purification, storage and delivery, and is capable of operating a battalion medical aid station

along with ground vehicle maintenance support.

Alpha Company, 6th Battalion, 52d Aviation Regiment

Alpha Company flies C-12 twin-engine turboprops and UC-35 jets as part of the Army’s

passenger fleet.

P a g e | 18

Opportunities:

Have the ability to take on special operations projects.

Fort Worth is the most likely place to move the battalion headquarters and bring in

additional aircraft.

There is plenty of room to grow and expand.

Moving TXARNG CH-47s from Grand Prairie to NAS Fort Worth JRB. A more secure

federal facility and support facilities for soldiers.

Recommendations:


operations with fixed wing or rotorcraft and other encroachment issues.

Encourage NG communication with SOF counterparts

Naval Air Station Kingsville

Naval Air Station Kingsville (NASK) provides advanced training for strike pilots for the Navy,

USMC, NATO, and Allied countries. NASK operates its own FAA assigned airspace and also

does their own depot level maintenance and NAS Meridian’s maintenance. NASK trains half of

the Navy’s strike pilots. The T-45 is the aircraft flown and maintained here. NASK contributed

$676.21 million to the Texas economy in 2017 with a gross domestic product of $415.35 million

and a disposable personal income of $291.56 million. NASK is home to 483 active duty

members, 859 civilians and contractors, 71 National Guard and Reserve members, and has an

average daily load of 174 students.8

Strengths:

• Joint Airport Zoning Board and Airport Zoning regulations allow the Installation and

community to implement compatible land use invites and rapidly address encroachment

concerns before they can impact Navy’s Strike Pilot Training Mission.

• All Navy T-45 Depot level maintenance is accomplished at NAS Kingsville

• NASK has FAA authority to provide air traffic control over Training Air Wing Two’s

training air space.

• NASK provides required air traffic control for Southeastern Texas, to include visibility

into border operations.

• Texas State legislature passed SB 2779 limiting tax incentives for wind farm construction

within 25 miles of military airfields (fixed wing).

• Over 300 visual flight rules (VFR) days each year.

• Access to 36,000 cubic miles of airspace, training areas, and ranges.

8 Numbers fluctuate on a day to day basis. 9 SB 277 - Relating to the eligibility of certain property for certain ad valorem tax incentives relating to wind-powered energy devices.

P a g e | 19

Opportunities:

• Expand use of McMullen Target Range. Two targets with associated restricted area R-

6312.

• 1,000 acres available for expanded or new missions with water and wastewater capacity

available from the City of Kingsville.

Recommendations:



Seek additional missions that could be absorbed on the installations, to include

intergovernmental.

United States Air Force

Dyess Air Force Base

Dyess Air Force Base (AFB), located in Abilene, supports specialized missions of the Air Force

by providing operational B-1B bombers and C-130 J aircraft. The 7th Bomb Wing, with the Air

Force’s only B-1B formal training unit, is the host unit and the 317th Airlift Wing, with two C-

130J squadrons, is the primary mission partner. Additionally, the base is home to other tenant

units of the Air Force as well as units from the Army and the Marine Corps. Dyess AFB

contributed $2.64 billion to the Texas economy in 2017 with a gross domestic product of $1.61

billion and a disposable personal income of $973.41 million. Dyess AFB is home to 4,455 active

duty members, 573 civilians and contractors, 87 National Guard and Reserve members, and has

an average daily load of 70 students.10

Strengths:

• Dyess AFB units perform bomber and airlift missions in the Air Force.

• Excellent facilities and plenty of capacity make mission growth a real possibility.

• City of Abilene support is outstanding.

Opportunities:

CSAF recently announced that current bomber bases will be homes for the follow-on B-

21 bomber. Dyess is already planning to take on the new bomber aircraft. We anticipate a

significant infrastructure investment to facilitate this new mission.

Over 20 acres of unused ramp space make additional flying missions an attractive option.

Airspace in training areas needs to be modified to allow more low-level flight training

(500 ‘Above Ground Level).


P a g e | 20

On base housing would need to be addressed as mission grows.

Recommendations:


operations and other encroachment issues.

Continue to support the basing of new B-21 bombers throughout Texas to leverage

taxpayer investment.

Support additional flight missions that could be absorbed on the installation to include

tanker aircraft.

Goodfellow Air Force Base

Goodfellow AFB, located in San Angelo, is home to the 17th Training Wing. Its mission is to

train, develop, and inspire exceptional Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)

analytic functions, and fire protection professional development for America and her allies.

Goodfellow AFB also supports linguist training in the 517th Training Group, located at the

Presidio of Monterey in California. In 2017, the base contributed $3.38 billion to the Texas

economy with a gross domestic product of $2.06 billion and a disposable personal income of

$1.20 billion. Goodfellow AFB is home to 3,593 active duty members, 1,059 civilians and

contractors, 29 National Guard and Reserve members, and has an average daily load of 2,340

students.11

Strengths:

• Goodfellow AFB provides the only entry level ISR training in the Air Force.

• The wing also hosts the only fire protection training program in DoD for all services.

• The city of San Angelo is a strong partner for the wing and supports its mission

enthusiastically.

• Goodfellow has more Sensitive Classified Information Facility (SCIF) space than any

base in the Air Force.

• The Medical Treatment Facility has been ranked #1 of 55 in the Air Force

Opportunities:

• Consolidation of joint intelligence training at Goodfellow would increase efficiency and

leverage expertise of the enterprise.

• Strong collaboration with Angelo State University (ASU) is an enabler.

• Capacity exists for mission growth, but dormitory space needs to be addressed to handle

the increased population.

• International intelligence training is a proven growth area for the wing and has increased

over the last couple of years and can increase even more; cyber and language training are

two other areas that are complementary.


P a g e | 21

Recommendations:

Continue to support the intelligence mission and additional growth of foreign intelligence

training.

Encourage continued state asset academic and government partnerships (i.e., ASU,

Department of Public Safety, law enforcement agencies).

Laughlin Air Force Base

Laughlin AFB, located in Del Rio, is home to the 47th Flying Training Wing, the Air Force’s

largest Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) organization. Its mission is to graduate

the world’s best military pilots, deploy mission-ready warriors, and develop professional and

confident leaders. Laughlin AFB enjoys superb community relations and contributed $1.50

billion to the Texas economy in 2017 with a gross domestic product of $923.98 million and a

disposable personal income of $578.66 million. Laughlin AFB is home to 1,247 active duty

members, 1,381 civilians and contractors, 134 National Guard and Reserve members, and has an

average daily load of 700 students.12

Strengths:

• Laughlin produces more military pilot graduates of UPT than any Air Force flying

training wing!

• Unique combination of remote location, security, good weather and superb training

airspace make Laughlin the ideal location for flight training.

• Base is located on more than 5600 acres; large portion is undeveloped land east of the

runways.

• DEAAG funded vehicle entry control facility is the security model for the Air Force.

• Superb support from community; partnership with local ISD brought a charter elementary

school inside the fence line, thus enhancing military quality of life and community

inclusiveness.

Opportunities:

• Will most likely increase pilot production by 15 – 20% as the Air Force works through a

shortage of nearly 2,000 pilots.

• Capacity exists for further mission expansion (beyond the anticipated 15-20%), but

would require increase in support infrastructure.

• The large portion of undeveloped land across the flight line could absorb additional

missions.

Recommendations:


operations and other encroachment issues.


P a g e | 22

Support additional missions that could be absorbed on the installation.

Sheppard Air Force Base

Sheppard AFB, located near Wichita Falls, is the largest, most diverse training base in Air

Education and Training Command. It is the only Air Force base that is home to both technical

and specialized flight training. The 82nd Training Wing is the host unit at Sheppard AFB and

provides technical training annually to more than 60,000 students from across all branches of the

U.S. Armed Forces, along with international students. Courses of instructions include aircraft

maintenance, civil engineering, logistics, explosive ordinance disposal, and telecommunications.

The 80th Flying Training Wing is home to the world’s only internationally manned and managed

pilot training program. The Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT), which

includes 14 NATO countries, produces more than 200 pilots annually and has delivered more

than 6,600 trained combat pilots to our NATO allies. Sheppard AFB contributed $3.95 billion to

the Texas economy in 2017 with a gross domestic product of $2.42 billion and a disposable

personal income of $1.49 billion. Sheppard AFB is home to 1,540 active duty members, 3,138

civilians and contractors, 72 National Guard and Reserve members, and has an average daily

load of 4,250 students.13

Strengths:

• The 82nd Training Wing provides more than half of the initial enlisted skills training for

the Air Force.

• Maintenance training for all aircraft (except the F-35) is done at Sheppard.

• Support from the local community is superb; the Sheppard Military Affairs Council is an

integral part of Team Sheppard.

• The 80th Flying Training Wing provides essential pilot training for the USAF and over a

dozen other NATO countries; only program of its kind in the U.S. Air Force.

Opportunities:

• Much of the 82nd’s training is conducted off station; possibility exists to bring some of

that mission back to home station.

• Since the 80th provides undergraduate, pilot instructor, and introduction to fighter

fundamentals training all in one location, it is an ideal unit to be one of the first to

transition to the new T-X (T-38 replacement) when it comes on board.

• Infrastructure, ramp space, runways would allow increased production of foreign pilot

training and enhance international collaboration.

Recommendations:



Recapitalization of training classrooms with growing mission responsibilities.


P a g e | 23

Additional Euro-NATO air forces should be encouraged to send additional pilots for

training at Sheppard AFB.

Joint Base San Antonio

The largest and most diverse joint base in the Department of Defense, Joint Base San Antonio

(JBSA) is comprised of four primary locations: Fort Sam Houston, Camp Bullis, Randolph Air

Force Base and Lackland Air Force Base. JBSA expands out across a total of 11 geographically

separated parcels of land consisting of 46,539 acres, and 35 million square feet in facilities that

support over 266 mission partners. Despite its uniqueness in setup, the 70,000 members who

belong to JBSA are making a difference, not only in San Antonio but for the nation by

accomplishing diverse training, flying, medical, cyber, intelligence, and installation support

missions every day. JBSA trains more students from the Department of Defense (DoD) and has

more active runways than any other installation. JBSA is also home to the San Antonio Military

Medical Center, the DoD’s largest hospital and only state-side level one trauma center,

supporting more than 561,000 personnel. Joint Base San Antonio contributed $30.37 billion to

the Texas economy in 2017 with a gross domestic product of $18.66 billion and a disposable

personal income of $12.20 billion. JBSA is home to 21,247 active duty members, 25,219

civilians and contractors, 5,465 National Guard and Reserve members, and has an average daily

load of 13,036 students.14

Lackland Air Force Base

Located in the southwest corner of San Antonio, Lackland AFB, hosted by the 37th Training

Wing, is known as “The Gateway to the Air Force” and trains up to 80,000 U.S. and foreign

military students annually. Lackland AFB’s primary mission is to provide basic training for new

recruits in the U.S. Air Force. It has numerous mission partners (including 24th and 25th Air

Force, 59th Medical Wing, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, and 67th

Cyberspace Wing), and other training programs such as encompass marksmanship, language,

dog handling, cybersecurity, intelligence, medical and security forces skills. Furthermore, after

the closure of Kelly AFB in 2001, Lackland gained its first operational runway, additional

properties, a guard fighter wing, and a reserve airlift wing.

Strengths:

• The 37th Training wing is the Air Force’s only basic training installation for new enlistees

• The wing also provides initial skills technical training for security forces and battlefield

Airmen including combat controller, combat weatherman, joint terminal attack

controllers (JTAC) and pararescue jumper (PJ).

• The recent stand up of a recruiting squadron specifically for Battlefield Airmen should

help improve high attrition and ensure continued mission success.


P a g e | 24

• Lackland is home to DoD’s only military working dog program.

Opportunities:

• Air Force Security Assistance Training squadron provides training to many Latin

American countries in their native language; potential for significant growth with new

partnerships.

• Recently approved DEAAG project to refurbish airfield operations facilities will enhance

current mission and provide platform for future growth.

• The 149th FW anticipates receipt of newer block F-16s and eventually F-35s to continue

their training mission.

• With 24th and 25th Air Force Headquarters (combining under one major command),

Security Hill, and robust partnerships with the local community/Port of San Antonio,

Lackland is a natural location for a USAF Center of Excellence.

Recommendations:



Support newer block F-16s for the 149th FW and eventual replacement with F-35s.

Support funding for runway upgrades.

Support additional cyber security civil-military missions and create a statewide cyber

organization to include industry and academic partners.

Randolph Air Force Base

Randolph Air Force Base, located in the northeast side of San Antonio, is hosted by the 12th

Flying Training Wing (FTW). Their primary mission is to produce new instructor pilots who will

be assigned to all Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) Bases in the Air Force.

Additionally, the wing produces initial skills training for all Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)

pilots and sensor operators. Randolph AFB is also home to Air Education Training Command

(AETC), Headquarters Recruiting Service, Air Force Personnel Center, and 19th Air Force. The

three-star AETC commander headquartered here is responsible for 10 other major installations

across five different states.

Strengths:

• Randolph AFB produces Instructor pilots for every SUPT wing in the Air Force.

• Despite rapid growth around the base, Randolph has effectively partnered with

surrounding communities to help ensure compatible development.

• The Air Force’s only undergraduate RPA fundamentals course for both pilots and sensor

operators is conducted by the 12th FTW.

• RPA pilot candidates receive an “instrument rating” using the wing’s T-6 like simulators.

• In addition to the flying missions, Randolph hosts four General Officer command HQs.

P a g e | 25

• Since the 12th FTW trains instructor pilots, it is an ideal unit to be one of the first to

transition to the new T-X (T-38 replacement) when it comes on board.

Recommendations:

• Include military flying training bases and 5-mile buffer in critical infrastructure list in HB

164315.

• HB 89016 requires sellers to notify new home buyers of resold homes when they are in

Air Installation Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ); recommend and support this same

notification apply to new homes in AICUZ areas.

• SB 27717 removes tax incentives for wind-powered energy devices within 25 miles of

airfields; consider implementing same restrictions to devices impacting Military Training

Routes (MTR) and discourage development under or near Accident Prevention Zones

(APZ).

• Continue to discourage incompatible development such as wind farms in close proximity


Fort Sam Houston

Located just north of downtown San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston (FSH) is the oldest installation

of Joint Base San Antonio and among the oldest of the U.S. Army. FSH is known for its medical

services and healthcare. The base is home to the Brooke Army Medical Center and the San

Antonio Military Medical Center, which provides high quality care to military personnel,

veterans, their families, and civilian emergency patients. U.S. Army North provides homeland

security protection, civil support, and theater security operations for the United States.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Army South operates in 31 countries of the Caribbean, Central, and South

America.

Strengths:

Only DoD Level I Trauma facility within the United States.

All services conduct medical training here.

Large population of San Antonio allows access to trauma patients.

New state of the art medical facilities offering comprehensive care.

The Defense Health Administration (DHA) has announced plans to relocate to Fort Sam

Houston.

15 House Bill 1643 - Relating to the regulation of the operation of an unmanned aircraft and the prosecution of a related criminal offense. 16 House Bill 890 - Relating to providing information to the public and to purchasers of real property regarding the impact of military

installations. 17 SB 277 - Relating to the eligibility of certain property for certain ad valorem tax incentives relating to wind-powered energy devices.

P a g e | 26

Opportunities:

Consolidate additional DoD medical labs to Fort Sam Houston to create more synergy

and efficiencies.

Consider other joint DoD or DoD- civilian residency opportunities for partnership and

mission enhancement.

Recommendations:

Monitor the opening of additional trauma centers in the San Antonio area that could

negatively impact patient load and training opportunities for DoD medical personnel that

is critical to their mission.

Encourage opportunities for entrepreneurship and medical innovation partnerships with

the community and throughout Texas.

Additional medical labs could be located near the facility to modernize training and new

technology development.

Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base

Ellington Airport is a joint use civil and military airport that supports multiple tenants including

the Texas Air and Army National Guard, and multiple reserve units - hence the name Ellington

Field Joint Reserve Base (EF JRB). The major units at Ellington are tasked with reconnaissance

and Air Sovereignty alert missions and providing support for natural disasters among many other

missions supporting Texas. Ellington Field contributed $1.17 billion to the Texas economy in

2017 with a gross domestic product of $717.00 million and a disposable personal income of

$647.80 million. Ellington Field is home to 241 active duty members, 440 civilians and

contractors, and 792 National Guard and Reserve members.18

The 147th Attack Wing (147th AW) of the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG) is the host unit

at Ellington Field JRB. The 147th AW flies combat support missions 24/7 via advanced satellite

communications thus providing surveillance, reconnaissance, and air support for U.S. and Allied

forces. The 147th AW consists of a mission support group, an operations group, a maintenance

squadron, and a medical group. Other tenants include the 111th Attack Squadron, the 1-149th

Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (TXARNG), 1st Battalion - 23rd Marines, 138th Fighter Wing

Detachment 1, 75th Innovation Command (USAR), 136th Signals Battalion (TXARNG), 451st

Civil Affairs Battalion, Navy Operational Support Center, U.S. Coast Guard, Civil Air Patrol and

Texas State Guard units.

Strengths:

• New control tower (partial funded by TMPC DEAAG award) and ample ramp space

make partnering with the city for increased flying mission practical.


P a g e | 27

• 147th Attack Wing’s recent transition to MQ-9 Reaper provides significantly increased

capability for the unit. Could easily double their Combat Air Patrol requirement.

Opportunities:

• The MQ-9 Reaper provides great options to the state for use in domestic requirements

(border patrol, natural disaster recovery, and others). Continued work with FAA is

needed to allow flights in the National Airspace Structure (NAS).

• Great infrastructure and support at the 147th make it an ideal location for a light attack

aircraft mission. Also Houston is a good location for recruiting pilots for the mission.

Recommendations:

Encourage alliances and training exercises with other UAS training facilities.

Support approval for UAS flights in the national airspace.

The Texas Military Department (Texas National Guard and

Texas State Guard)

The Texas Military is commanded by The Adjutant General of Texas, the senior military official

appointed by the governor. The Texas Military Department is comprised of the Texas Army

National Guard (TXARNG), the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG) and the Texas State Guard

(TXSG). The mission is to provide the Governor and the President with ready forces in support

of state and federal authorities at home and abroad.

Federally, the Texas National Guard works in combatant commands and supports homeland

defense and partnership programs with other countries. Within the state, the Texas Military

Department duties include defense support to civil authorities (including humanitarian and

disaster assistance), medical support, providing at-risk youth programs, and other programs in

homeland security and defense. There are 18,336 Army Guardsmen, 3,224 Air guardsmen, 1,858

State guardsmen, 532 state employees, and 99 federal civilians.

Strengths:

Texas has excellent recruiting locations for the guard, boasting quality of life and

economic growth.

The Texas National Guard could grow in end strength if authorized by the DoD and is

small in per capita size for the population of the state.

Good training opportunities with the active service units in the state.

Long history of military support to civil authorities (hurricanes, wild fires, flooding, other

natural or manmade disasters).

World class State Emergency Management capability.

P a g e | 28

Opportunities:

• TXARNG - obtain armored tanks for opportunities to train with active units with Fort

Hood and Fort Bliss.

• TXARNG can grow in size with DoD authorization and great recruitment opportunities

in Texas.

• TXANG – can absorb aerial refueling tankers and mission, light attack aircraft, replace

older C-130Hs with new C-130Js, and replace older block F-16s with newer block F-16s

(and eventually F-35s).

• TXANG can grow in size with DoD authorization and has great recruiting and retention

opportunities in Texas.

Recommendations:

Continue to support funding for the guard to include new or newer model aircraft and

support increasing the guard’s end-strength numbers and missions for both the Army and

Air.

Overall Recommendations for the Military Missions in Texas

Funding the Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant (DEAAG)

The TMPC oversees a grant program that provides funding to military communities to protect

installations, missions, and investment. This program has received funding for the past few

biennia and it is imperative to the military communities that it continues to be funded by the

Texas Legislature. Successful projects include new water infrastructure that has replaced faulty

lines to military installations, refurbishment of classrooms to grow military training missions,

and upgrading security features to protect employees and equipment. The DoD has requested

new rounds of BRAC recently and the state and local communities must be prepared to try and

add military values to installations in the state. Funding infrastructure projects is a good way to

add military values to installations due to neglect. Military budgets have consistently been cut

due to Sequestration and the Budget Control Act.

Recommendations:

Support funding for DEAAG.

Encourage economic partnerships between DoD, private sector and academia.

Encroachment Issues

Many military installations were previously built at significant distances from large cities and

housing. As populations grow, many developments are growing too close to military

installations. Intelligent planning in development and land use are important tools to understand

issues before they become problems. Many installations develop Joint Land Use Studies every

few years to understand current or impending issues which can include land development,

P a g e | 29

endangered species, and pollution. The state must be mindful of potential impacts of wind

turbines on military aviation missions that could jeopardize the missions. Communications,

understanding flight missions, and the placement of wind turbines are encouraged discussions

between the wind energy industry and the military.

Recommendations:

Build on Senate Bill 277 (85R)19 to include military rotorcraft flight operations and

possibly Military Training Routes (MTR).

Support legislation to limit encroachment from wind farms and other infrastructure that

would limit airspace and consider incentives that would encourage encroachment

avoidance.

Spousal employment/education

Military spouses face unusual obstacles when it comes to employment, personal development,

and education. For many spouses, building a career can be difficult when their spouse is moved

every two to three years for their military career. Military spouses face issues with employers

who are unwilling to take them on because of the frequent moves. Education can be equally

problematic because the spouse would need to re-enroll and apply to different educational

institutions if their program was not remotely based.

Recommendations:

Give military spouse preferential treatment for state employment.

Encourage community college and other institutions of higher learning to actively recruit

military and military dependents.

Consider opportunities for shared on-installation-research partnerships (e.g., Fort

Leonard Wood Technology Park partnership with University of Missouri).

Spousal License Reciprocity

In the same line as spouse employment and education, some state requirements for licensing can

be too costly or lengthy for the spouse to reapply and renew licenses every few years. Some

states require additional schooling which may be neither cost-effective nor available to a military

spouse.

Recommendations:

Continue to aid military members or spouses with license reciprocity to include expedited

services, waive or reduce fees.

Create a one-stop web location for military members or dependents to locate license

reciprocity information.

Continue to support Veteran to BSN programs throughout Texas.

19 85th Regular Session, Texas Legislature

P a g e | 30

Quality of Local Schools

The quality of schools across the country varies and can be dependent on the district standards.

Military children should have access to the best schools in the country no matter where they are

located.

Recommendations:

State and communities should work to continue to increase the quality of local schools

where military children attend.

Encourage ISD proximity/co-location with military installations.

Quality of Life Issues

Service members with and without families should have good experience in the communities

they serve. Quality of life issues for service members and their families have been recognized as

important recruitment and retention issues by the DoD. Satisfied service members and their

families allow the member to focus on his/her job.

Recommendations:

Local communities should continue to increase quality of life issues to include sports or

outdoor facilities, children’s programs, and other family or service member activities.

Encourage education and research outreach opportunities between state academic

institutions and military facilities.

Encourage community service that engages military and civilian partnerships.

Local communities should continue to support affordable housing options for service

members and their families. Consider entrepreneurial partnerships between military

members and civilian counterparts in economic development across Texas.

Energy Resiliency

Many Texas installations have completed or begun construction on redundant energy supplies for

the installation. For some installations, the ability to restore power after a major event is of the

highest importance for national security. Some Texas installations have mitigated these concerns

by installing their own solar production facilities, redundant energy connections, or beginning to

build their own micro grid. Texas is unique in that most of the state has a separate electrical grid

from the East and West coasts with smaller entities (like universities) having their own micro

grids as well.

Recommendations:

Encourage ERCOT and energy providers to work with installations to ensure energy

resiliency with redundant, back up, or prioritization to restore services and could include

micro grids. It is important to be able to communicate to the DoD the priority of

P a g e | 31

community-centered resiliency plans that includes energy infrastructure to maintain

operations during and post-disasters.

Cyber Security

Cyber capabilities are a necessity to homeland security and global operations. Texas is already

home to a significant amount of cyber infrastructure, research and development to include

military headquarters, universities, private businesses, and other government agencies. Texas

would be an excellent home to an expanded trans-state cyber security corridor or alliance with

the institutions, infrastructure, and workforce, and continued training to support it. Growth in this

area of expertise also enhances the workforce pool for DoD.

Recommendations:

Continue to support collaborations between the military, academia, private industry, and

workforce boards and community colleges and create an alliance or some other type of

collaboration that enhances economic development and technology growth.

Healthcare: External to the Installation and Virtual Healthcare

The levels of healthcare at some installations have been downgraded or reduced due to cost.

Military communities serving civilian populations have been able to take on some of the load for

veterans and retirees but not all provide service at adequate levels.

Recommendations:

Local communities should continue to support the quality of their healthcare facilities and

recruit specialists from high demand specialties that add value to both community and

military installation.

Public/ Public, Public/ Private Partnerships (P4)

The DoD has recognized the importance partnerships with the state and local communities that

can provide service at a cost savings or greater efficiency. Several of the military services are in

the process of institutionalizing these partnerships and are seeking ideas for intergovernmental

agreements. The services could include road repair or maintenance inside the fence line, bulk

purchase, garbage or recycle collection or other services. There are areas where the installations

could provide services to the local community as well.

Recommendations:

The state and local communities should seek partnerships ideas and find ways to lower

any barriers or restrictions to intergovernmental agreements between the installation,

local community, or state to include changing state law or local ordinances. Some of the

military services would like to explore opportunities to partner with Texas Department of

Transportation on transportation projects on installations and Texas Department of

P a g e | 32

Economic Development and Texas Veterans Commission on entrepreneurial

alliances/incentives for military and dependents.

Consider new paradigms to leverage job expertise and know-how for transitioning

veterans.

Conclusion

In order for Texas to stay at the forefront of supporting military missions and members,

innovative partnerships are key. These recommendations should inspire change and creative

thinking with all community partners that interact with the military and their families.

There are opportunities to add military value to Texas installations by growing current missions

or absorbing additional missions. Texas has abundant air space and maneuver or training areas

to support additional missions. Texas and its local communities are supportive of the military

and want to find innovative ways to grow the military and finds ways to add military value. The

Department of Defense could not find a better mix of supportive communities, facilities, airspace

and land, deploy ability infrastructure, and weather to grow missions. Texas stands willing and

able to support and add military value to the Department of Defense.

P a g e | 33

Appendix

Texas Military Value Task Force (Military Base Realignment and Closure Task Force), Texas

Government Code 436.105 - https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.436.htm

Sec. 436.105. MILITARY BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE TASK FORCE;

EXPIRATION DATE. (a) The commission shall establish a task force to seek advice to prepare for

possible action by the United States Department of Defense related to the realignment or closure of

military installations in this state.

(b) The task force established under this section must consist of not more than seven members who

have demonstrated experience or expertise in the United States Department of Defense's base

realignment and closure process.

(b-1) A member of the task force is entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses.

(c) The task force established under this section shall:

(1) confer with defense communities and military installations located in this state to identify

strategies, policies, plans, projects, and other ways to improve base realignment scores; and

(2) advise and make recommendations to the commission and legislature on any strategy, policy,

plan, project, or action the task force believes will strengthen the defense communities and military

installations in the state and prevent the closure or a significant reduction of the operations of the

military installations.

(c-1) Any information written, produced, collected, assembled, or maintained by or for the task

force is confidential and exempt from disclosure under Chapter 552 only during the task force's

existence.

(d) The task force is abolished and this section expires September 1, 2021.

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 777 (S.B. 1200), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2013.

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 330 (S.B. 1358), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2015.



Sec. 436.1051. MILITARY BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE TASK FORCE;

PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION. (a) On the abolishment of the military base realignment

and closure task force, the task force shall transfer all information written, produced, collected,

assembled, or maintained by or for the task force to the commission and the commission shall

maintain the information.

(b) Any information transferred to the commission under Subsection (a) is public information

subject to disclosure under Chapter 552.

Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 575 (S.B. 751), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2017.

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.436.htm

Documents

TEXAS MILITARY VALUE TASK FORCE 2018 STRATEGIC … · Captain Erik Spitzer, Commander of NASK Fort Bliss Brigadier General Mark Landes, Deputy Commanding General, 1st Armored Division